Secrets in the Stars (Family Law)

by Mackey Chandler

  "I'd think growing trees in tunnels would be hugely expensive," Lee said.

  "Well there are limits," April admitted. "I don't think anybody but a diehard hobbyist determined to show it could be done would raise walnuts. But we do have pit fruits and apples and citrus. The people who raise them lay the whole thing out as a park and sell memberships to go in and enjoy the environment. People like to take their kids there, and some people work from there instead of home. We also have some supply from those colonies of which I spoke. We're not dependent on Earth for supply anymore, and we've had a century to systematically collect every seed and shoot and animal genome we can acquire. Just in case things do go to hell and we do lose the world below."

  "I will accept your great gift, and stand ready to repay you if ever I can," Talker agreed.

  "That's fine. I'm always happy to bank favors owed," April said.

  The table was cleared and the coffee renewed. Some sweets were offered that the aliens could enjoy. April didn't seem disposed to lead them back to the throne room.

  "I suppose, since you didn't create the Claims Commission, and don't have any reason to influence them on this, we should just go ahead and approach them to submit our claims," Gordon decided. "All the reasons we used them before still exist. They do keep others from poaching, and we need to do business with the Human sphere for the light weapons, if the Badgers and Bills are going to discourage the Biters from preying on them. All this talk about containing or reforming the Earth nations is your project, and the scope of it beyond us. We may find common cause over time, but we are here to deal with the present, not to ally to change the future," he told April.

  "Having ties to more species, an entire alien civilization in this case, is the sort of thing we hope will move the Earth powers to reject the old ways of intimidation and follow the rule of law as they've done with the Commission. We wish you every success," April assured them. "The Lunar Powers aren't in the business of protecting claims and advancing their development anyway. But if we find other things where we can partner that's fine too."

  "Oh, you better believe we'll want to pursue the medical tech like Fargone," Talker said. "I hope we might get it available on our own worlds like Fargone has. A different question occurs to me though. We're looking to buy weapons from Fargone. We also sent a delegation to New Japan. You haven't mentioned them. Where do they stand with the other powers?"

  "New Japan wants to chart their own course. We aren't in conflict, and I hope to avoid that happening. They simply have their own society and want it to remain isolated enough to maintain their vision for it. They want limited outside trade, and will accept business visitors. But they have no desire for mass tourism or other ways for outsiders to dilute their culture. We respect that," April said. "There was a period in their history, not New Japan, but the old island nation, when other powers forced them to open to the outside world and trade. They still remember that with resentment."

  "I can see where they would," Talker agreed. How far back was this?"

  "Long enough they were using sailing ships instead of spacecraft," April said, smiling.

  "Oh, they have long memories then," Singer said. The first that he was moved to comment.

  "Then if that resolves your questions, I have other business to pursue," April said standing. Gabriel appeared like magic to escort them again.

  "Feel free to contact me if you have news or proposals to share," April added.

  Something tickled at Lee's memory.

  "Thanks. I have your com code. I'll message you when we resolve everything," Lee promised.

  April just lifted an eyebrow at that, surprised.

  Chapter 28

  When Gabriel returned their party to the city they connected at the VIP rear entry at the Holiday Inn again. They entered the large bay where the Inn received bulk shipments and the workers entered. They knew which express elevator dropped to their suite and called it up. It didn't come.

  Gordon called the front desk and was asking what the problem was when the lock they'd just used opened again, and two officers wearing the Claims Commission uniform like the guard out at the border entered. They were very polite, but insistent that if they had no further business with the Sovereign of Central they would now need to undergo the standard Commission medical exams and quarantine to reenter the Lunar Republic.

  When Gordon objected the senior officer suggested their only other option was to get back in their ship and leave. They even helpfully offered to have their personal things from the suite retrieved under seal for them to the High Hopes.

  "They want us to get upset and leave," Lee immediately decided. "Don't give them the satisfaction."

  "Indeed, you are correct," Gordon said in that very soft hushed voice Lee understood meant that he was deeply angry. Thor on the other hand smiled at them. Lee did have to admire anyone with the nerve to smile back. These fellows had nerve aplenty. Talker and Singer, not being stupid, kept quiet and took their clues from the others.

  When they were invited to pass back through the boarding tube and use the Commission transport to go to the medical facility they agreed. Lee however did drop a message about what was happening to the com address she remembered for April. The hotel net acknowledged its receipt. Talker quietly asked if it was safe to go with these people. Lee assured him that yes, April knew what was happening, so they weren't going to be 'disappeared', and her estimate of it was this was simply a silly display of temper over having their will and procedures overridden. The petty officials were going to give them a hard time, but nobody would offer them violence.

  When they reached the clinic and hooked on the tube the officers did try to disarm them, telling Gordon and Thor to leave their axes, and that Lee should also leave her weapons on the seats.

  Gordon just said, "No."

  The officer stood there looking at the lock thinking how to deal with this.

  "I'll open it for you if you need me to," Gordon offered. There was no external control. They must open it with their spex or the driver did it for them. The fellow appraised Gordon's size and the fact he had his hand under the axe head and decided to cede the point. He opened the hatch.

  There was a technician waiting for each of them. Gordon took command of the situation and informed them their alien friends were uncomfortable with strangers and Singer, the fellow with the bill, would process with Thor, and Talker, the fellow with the pointy snout would go with him.

  "That isn't our procedure," the fellow with his tablet out said, pouting like a child.

  "I don't give a bloody damn what your procedures are," Gordon said. "That's how we do it today. These are the spox of an entire alien civilization. They are patients, not prisoners, and they're going to be treated with dignity. We just had lunch with a peer of the Sovereign of Central. How is it that someone of her stature managed to be gracious all day, and some flunky in a lab coat pisses me off the first time he opens his mouth?"

  "Then who gets to escort the little girl?" the fellow sneered, angry to be spoken to that way. He seemed to think that was a brilliant come-back.

  "My daughter can take care of herself," Gordon assured him. "That little girl owns three starships and the income from a class A living world. I suggest you speak to her with more care than all the rest of us put together. The Derf already had one war with North America over some idiot bureaucrats treating her shabbily. I doubt if anybody would thank you for starting another."

  "Oh... she's that young woman," the doctor said. Looking alarmed. He apparently was aware of some things outside his professional life, such as a very recent and showy war.

  "They didn't bother to tell you did they?" Gordon said, amused.

  "I'm going to appoint a patient's advocate to follow her through testing and quarantine," the doctor decided, quickly covering his butt.

  "That's an excellent idea. Last time we came in here we'd been a month from exposure on a new world, and they saw no need of a longer quarantine. This time we've ha
d several times that long for anything to show, and a much bigger sample examined at Derfhome than just we two like before. The only thing that has turned up is an athlete's foot analog that the natives gave us two ways to treat. I don't see how you need a quarantine now if you didn't before," Gordon said. "Unless you were ordered to treat us differently."

  "Be assured," the doctor said, looking like he'd bitten into a lemon, "I treat everybody to the most scrupulous professional standards, regardless of their station or anyone's opinion of them."

  "Wonderful," Gordon said. "I admire a man with high standards." And they'd have thrown you under the bus after they used you to harass us, Gordon thought. The fellow had the picture and wasn't going to let that happen now.

  It was still an ordeal. Perhaps the more so because the medical staff was now determined to do everything extra carefully and thoroughly for their own protection, having perceived it as a political hot-potato. They got back to the hotel late and exhausted. Room service brought up a late meal and they ate a bit, too tired to really enjoy it. Neither was the preparation near as artful as April's kitchen.

  "They don't like you, obviously," Talker said, looking at Gordon.

  "Well, yeah. Not the Claims Commission, but North America. Unfortunately North America is effectively half of the Claims Commission. They have entirely too much influence inside it. We were never going to be harmed, but they might have kept us isolated in quarantine for a few days, maybe as much as a week to teach us a lesson and show their authority," Gordon said.

  "It is my observation," Talker, said with a rare angry expression. "Having seen the same behaviors in my own government, that when you use your limited powers to inflict petty punishments you demonstrate your weakness to the world. It just tells everyone you are unable to do the real harm you desire instead of showing true power."

  "Indeed, I couldn't have said it better. The only ones intimidated are the lesser members of the Claims Commission. They see how they will be treated if they buck the big member. Could you tell the doctor was not North American?" Gordon asked.

  "I can't tell which ethnic group or nation Humans are from yet, it's too... complicated. When I saw a Human with very black skin I thought – 'Yes! At last a group I'll be able to identify on sight' – and that lasted about ten minutes until I found he was just another Fargoer."

  "I've heard enough to know," Gordon assured him. "The head doc there could be a North American by appearance, but his speech said that even if he is naturalized, he is a Spanish speaker. There are Spanish speakers in North America, but he had such a strong accent that it suggests he took his secondary education in that language and English is a second language to him. So much so he probably doesn't use it outside work. I'd guess he's South American or Central American. One of the other docs sounded Asian. The other countries in the Commission provide all sorts of personnel in support, more so than ships and crews."

  "That's far more complicated than I'll be able to deal with for some time. And yet you still recommend we use this system?" Talker asked. "It seems flawed."

  "Oh, it is," Gordon agreed. "But until it doesn't work it's the best game in town. Surely you have things in your own government you would change if it were in your power? I seem to remember you wanted to hurry away from Far Away before a wave of officials descended on you and made this mission so complicated there might never be an end to negotiations and an agreement."

  "Your point is well taken," Talker agreed.

  Nobody suggested a wakeup call in the morning.

  * * *

  When Gordon crawled out in the morning Lee was up, but nobody else. She wisely said nothing while he got a huge coffee and glared briefly at the priority com light flashing. He ignored it.

  After Gordon was tipping the mug back far enough he was halfway done with the first filling Lee spoke. "The chef is on duty, ready to go if you want something."

  "Unghhh... One more cup first, with brandy," Gordon demanded, eyes closed.

  Lee found a bottle of the golden fluid in the bar, and added about a third to his cup.

  "You haven't eaten?" Gordon asked Lee, squinty eyed.

  "It isn't much fun eating alone.”

  "Order something for both of us. Order up a buffet. The others will want something too," Gordon decided. “By the time they have it set up I'll be able to face it."

  "You'll want it once you smell it," Lee assured him. He always did.

  "Damn ghouls. All the technology and remote sensing. They should be able to check you out from orbit and they still insist on invasive stuff that leaves you sore and feeling like crap."

  "I don't have as hard a time," Lee said carefully. "I think you tense up and fight everything more than me. If you can't help it I understand. The one tech came in where I was though, and said you grabbed the exam table so hard you left big claw holes in the sheet metal. He asked his boss if he should put it on the billing."

  Gordon looked at his middle hand, which was about near a half meter across when he flattened it out and spread his fingers wide. The claws were ten centimeter black curves with sharp points.

  "I don't have any busted tips, they must build them really cheap," He inspected the other middle limb carefully and went back to his coffee.

  Lee didn't bother to say anything. She'd seen Gordon casually open sturdy cans of field rations by ripping the side open from end to end with a claw. It would probably take something classed as plate instead of sheet before he'd notice it resisting. She just went to the kitchen and told the chef and his assistant that their guests were stirring and they could start cooking. That made them happy.

  Gordon finished a leisurely breakfast and chatted with them before he let the com signal concern him. When he finally sauntered over and sat at the console Lee followed and looked over his shoulder. As soon as Gordon accepted the call, the secretary for Green, Bennett and Glenn monitoring it had an executive on the line for Gordon in seconds.

  It was night in New York City. The scene from John Bennett's corner office was spectacular. He was turned the wrong way to enjoy it. He looked at the screen and the expression that came to his face upon seeing Gordon was one of relief, although delayed just a heartbeat by the speed of light lag.

  "Gordon! So glad to hear from you. I was worried there was some problem."

  "We did get a little bureaucratic nonsense," Gordon admitted. "We got admitted straight in to land and went to Central to talk to the head lady there right now. We had some serious questions about who exactly is in charge, and she answered them for us. That ruffled some feathers and once we were no longer under her explicit hospitality they wanted to make us back up and jump through all the hoops. They were very thorough with the testing, but didn't hold us in quarantine."

  "I can file a protest if you are getting prejudicial treatment. Who handles your claims was one of the things I wanted to talk about. When we served you before, the High Hopes was a USNA flagged vessel. It was automatic the USNA appointed senior account representative should administer your case. But now that you are flagged to your own clan and not one of the Big Five Commission members you can ask for whomever you wish to process your claims. There are a half dozen that rotate in the position to serve the members in common. You might be more comfortable with somebody you didn't cause any loss to in the war," John suggested.

  "I actually was going to suggest just the opposite," Gordon said. "I remember Adrian Bertrand was a real stickler for making everybody satisfied that it was a clean deal. I'd much rather dump it right in the North Americans laps and dare them to cut corners on us."

  John looked shocked. "You are a devious scoundrel," he said, but it didn't sound like a negative the way he said it. "They'll have everybody watching them, eager to complain about the slightest deviation, because most of the other members think they have too much power. I like it.

  "What I don't like is there are simply more claims in your data than we can process properly. We have a certain volume of business for which we plan. There
are a limited number of professionals who can be hired on a temporary basis to help us. It is rather a specialty at law. After that we run out of good options quickly. Raiding other firms for their employees is not an option.

  "What I'd very much hope you will grant permission to do is farm out some of the less important claims to other reputable firms, and pursue the more lucrative ones in-house with our present staff," John suggested.

  "Sure, it is quite a lot all at once, isn't it?" Gordon agreed. "Some of those claims are for simple things like fueling rights in a system that doesn't have anything else going for it. Feel free to spread them around. That's the way to do it, instead of upsetting everybody. Let's just try to get a few of the bigger claims for the brown dwarfs submitted, so we can take some positive news about them back home."

  "Certainly," John agreed. "It's going to run well into the next year before we process ever single claim. I'll be forwarding reports to you when you are back at Derfhome."

  "I'd also like you to inquire of the Commission on our behalf," Gordon said. "We have the spox of two alien races with us, and they are interested in cooperating with the Claims Commission as they explore and make their own claims near Human space. It's an excellent opportunity to secure good relations with them before there can be any conflict or misunderstandings."

  "They don't wish to join as members?" John Bennett asked.

  "They don't have armed ships to assume member obligations. But that's one of the trade items they're here to obtain. Perhaps in time they will qualify," Gordon said.

  "That's a new set of circumstances. I will inquire on for you. We'd be happy to represent these new people too, if they desire counsel," John offered.